Sort of sabbatical; what would you use it for?

Paidiske · May 7, 2020

So it seems that, due to the pandemic situation etc., it is likely that I will have about 14 weeks between finishing in my current role and starting a new one. Due to the Australian government's pandemic measures, I will be paid (not as much as usual, but enough to survive) during that time. Speaking to my bishop yesterday, he was encouraging me to use that time intentionally for learning and professional development.

I feel like 14 weeks is a long time to give over to PD! (Even if some of that is likely to be taken up with packing and moving house, etc). But it's also an opportunity I'm not likely to get again. And I'm pondering the best way to use it. I see two possible broad approaches:

1. Do something big-ish. Try to write the minor thesis I dropped five years ago, or audit a unit or two at theological college, something like that (note: cost might be an issue. I have lots of time but not buckets of money to spend on this).

2. Do lots of little things. Some small courses I've been meaning to do for ages (like mental health first aid), reading in range of areas that interest me, improving my IT skills, bits and pieces to position me well to hit the ground running in the new role.

I see pros and cons to both approaches (and there might be other possibilities I haven't thought of, too). What would you do, and why?

zippy2006 · May 7, 2020

Since 14 weeks is such a rare opportunity I would go for the first, except for the fact that libraries and research tends to be difficult at the moment, apart from online resources. In any case I would try to do something that takes advantage of the long period of time you have been given and are not likely to be given again for a long while. For me that would probably be taking classes, diving into a language, or making a long retreat. Good luck!

Sketcher · May 7, 2020

As a layperson who is in IT, I'm biased towards learning IT stuff. Actual troubleshooting, learning to ask good questions, checking all facts before presenting information, delaying advice before receiving all relevant information, and treating each problem as unique to personal circumstances that need to be understood first are all skills that years of IT-related things have taught me, and I wish I saw more of it in the church.

Paidiske · May 7, 2020

Ooh, a language, there's a thought...

@Sketcher, is there a course or programme you would recommend to a not-very-IT-savvy person?

Messerve · May 7, 2020

zippy2006 said:
Since 14 weeks is such a rare opportunity I would go for the first, except for the fact that libraries and research tends to be difficult at the moment, apart from online resources. In any case I would try to do something that takes advantage of the long period of time you have been given and are not likely to be given again for a long while. For me that would probably be taking classes, diving into a language, or making a long retreat. Good luck!

Well, I am back to work so I feel like I could have used my "time off" a little better. Though I was also working from home, so it wasn't a true break. But what I realized from my time at home was that at the end of the day we're still humans and have a limited degree of energy. So I would suggest set a realistic goal and don't set yourself up for discouragement if you try to tackle something really huge and don't accomplish it.

archer75 · May 7, 2020

Another or supplementary possibility:

Start sketching, regardless of whether you think you can draw. Draw from life. Leaves. Bits of bark. Draw what you see. Make it into a journal. Write a bit and draw SOMETHING. Every day.

“Paisios” · May 7, 2020

Paidiske said:
Ooh, a language, there's a thought...

@Sketcher, is there a course or programme you would recommend to a not-very-IT-savvy person?

Duolingo app is free and a reasonable basis for language learning - I’ve been learning Esperanto and 15 other languages during this time (mostly Esperanto) and found it a decent program for free.

Citizen of the Kingdom · May 7, 2020

Since who we are when we’re at home is the real gauge against our persona of who we pretend to be to the world I think a minor thesis on that topic coming from your background would make for interesting thought that could be challenging to fill the time.

The Liturgist · May 8, 2020

Paidiske said:
So it seems that, due to the pandemic situation etc., it is likely that I will have about 14 weeks between finishing in my current role and starting a new one. Due to the Australian government's pandemic measures, I will be paid (not as much as usual, but enough to survive) during that time. Speaking to my bishop yesterday, he was encouraging me to use that time intentionally for learning and professional development.

I feel like 14 weeks is a long time to give over to PD! (Even if some of that is likely to be taken up with packing and moving house, etc). But it's also an opportunity I'm not likely to get again. And I'm pondering the best way to use it. I see two possible broad approaches:

1. Do something big-ish. Try to write the minor thesis I dropped five years ago, or audit a unit or two at theological college, something like that (note: cost might be an issue. I have lots of time but not buckets of money to spend on this).

2. Do lots of little things. Some small courses I've been meaning to do for ages (like mental health first aid), reading in range of areas that interest me, improving my IT skills, bits and pieces to position me well to hit the ground running in the new role.

I see pros and cons to both approaches (and there might be other possibilities I haven't thought of, too). What would you do, and why?

At the risk of sounding impossibly old fashioned you could perhaps live a monastic prayer rule for 14 weeks with a special focus on the Jesus Prayer.

Paidiske · May 8, 2020

The Liturgist said:
At the risk of sounding impossibly old fashioned you could perhaps live a monastic prayer rule for 14 weeks with a special focus on the Jesus Prayer.

Hmm... while parenting?

The Liturgist · May 8, 2020

Paidiske said:
Hmm... while parenting?

Ah that is a point. However, I do know of Eastern Orthodox families who do have a very robust, one might say impossibly robust, prayer life at home, and the Jesus Prayer is supposed to be something one can practice in the face of distractions, so, it is not as impossible as at first it sounds. That said picking up another language might well be easier.

Paidiske · May 8, 2020

Given that while I was livestreaming morning prayer a few days ago, my daughter decided to play with fire in the next room (and burned her hand quite nicely), I think I might possibly postpone monastic ambitions until she's a little more safely independent.

Citizen of the Kingdom · May 8, 2020

~Cassia~ said:
Since who we are when we’re at home is the real gauge against our persona of who we pretend to be to the world I think a minor thesis on that topic coming from your background would make for interesting thought that could be challenging to fill the time.

Paidiske said:
Given that while I was livestreaming morning prayer a few days ago, my daughter decided to play with fire in the next room (and burned her hand quite nicely), I think I might possibly postpone monastic ambitions until she's a little more safely independent.

lol that was my after thought when I posted that suggestion. My kids are grown now and either because they have so well adjusted or I have it is now a joy to be around them. (It was then too, but different) Yet I remember thinking numerous times when they were growing up that I could be a really nice person if I didn’t have kids lol

Just my own personal take on that ...

Paidiske · May 8, 2020

Let's just say the current school closures are testing us all...

Sketcher · May 8, 2020

Paidiske said:
Ooh, a language, there's a thought...

@Sketcher, is there a course or programme you would recommend to a not-very-IT-savvy person?

Err, not really. I slowly got into it when I was growing up, and by my college years I had enough background and financial need to propel me into serious training. I would say pick an area that interests you that you would like to get better at first (3D printing? Virtual machines? PowerShell? etc), and begin to research. Search engines are essential for this. So is a thick skin, because a lot of beginner questions are too vague and open-ended to allow for immediate and correct answers, and not all technical people are graceful about letting the one who asks know about it (and if you didn't bother to search first, they'll really let you know about it).

Paidiske · May 8, 2020

Hmm... When I think about what I might use, I'm thinking more something along the lines of IT-for-dummy-ministers.

Things like building/maintaining a basic church website, social media integration, mass email systems, how to turn recorded sermons into podcasts, how to produce professional-quality material to be projected in services, building and maintaining contact databases, that kind of thing?

I have pretty good skills in some areas - what you might use for the more admin side of church life - but all of the media stuff seemed to develop while I wasn't looking, and I feel more than a bit clueless.

The Liturgist · May 15, 2020

Paidiske said:
Hmm... When I think about what I might use, I'm thinking more something along the lines of IT-for-dummy-ministers.

Things like building/maintaining a basic church website, social media integration, mass email systems, how to turn recorded sermons into podcasts, how to produce professional-quality material to be projected in services, building and maintaining contact databases, that kind of thing?

I have pretty good skills in some areas - what you might use for the more admin side of church life - but all of the media stuff seemed to develop while I wasn't looking, and I feel more than a bit clueless.

I was actually going to suggest you use your sabbatical to learn about IT. I am going to send you a PM on this.

Joined2krist · Jul 18, 2020

Give more time to intercessory prayer. The world needs it

Bob Crowley · Jul 31, 2020

Paidiske said:
...Things like building/maintaining a basic church website, social media integration, mass email systems, how to turn recorded sermons into podcasts, how to produce professional-quality material to be projected in services, building and maintaining contact databases, that kind of thing...

I'm not a parent, nor a minister, and we currently don't have the lockdown issues you do in Victoria and Melbourne in particular, since I'm in Queensland.

Although I live within a six kilometre radius of a couple of the new "hot spots" created in Brisbane, Logan and Ipswich by a couple of very foolish young ladies who came up here from Melbourne and didn't self quarantine, or tell the truth when they were questioned. So who knows?

It seems to me you might have answered your own question. The main problem would be how to go about getting the training without spending too much money on IT courses, and the fact you can't get face to face training in those areas. Secondly 14 weeks is probably not going to be enough to become fluent in all or even any of those areas.

But maybe you could start making enquiries about suitable courses or methods.

Then later when the Anglican Church crosses the Tiber, and you can't be a priest, you'll at least have a foot in the door as an online evangelist.... :oldthumbsup:

Just kidding.

Paidiske · Jul 31, 2020

Honestly the second lockdown has changed things a lot. Most of my time and energy is going into schooling from home; I had anticipated having this term with my daughter at school and that time to myself, but it hasn't worked out that way. So I'm trying to fit a little reading around the edges. Which is frustrating, but what can you do?

Sort of sabbatical; what would you use it for?

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